Radiochromic film for medical radiation dosimetry

Abstract Photon, electron and proton radiations are used extensively for medical purposes in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Dosimetry of these radiation sources can be performed with radiochromic films, devices that have the ability to produce a permanent visible colour change upon irradiation. Within the last 10 years, the use of radiochromic films has expanded rapidly in the medical world due to commercial products becoming more readily available, higher sensitivity films and technology advances in imaging which have allowed scientists to use two-dimensional (2D) dosimetry more accurately and inexpensively. Radiochromic film dosimeters are now available in formats, which have accurate dose measurement ranges from less than 1 Gy up to many kGy. A relatively energy independent dose response combined with automatic development of radiochromic film products has made these detectors most useful in medical radiation dosimetry.

[1]  P. Metcalfe,et al.  Verification of lung dose in an anthropomorphic phantom calculated by the collapsed cone convolution method. , 2000, Physics in medicine and biology.

[2]  J. S. Lee,et al.  Characterization of high-sensitivity metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor dosimeters system and LiF:Mg,Cu,P thermoluminescence dosimeters for use in diagnostic radiology. , 2002, Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine.

[3]  R. Ramani,et al.  The use of radiochromic film in treatment verification of dynamic stereotactic radiosurgery. , 1994, Medical physics.

[4]  L. B.,et al.  Introduction to Modern Physics , 1929, Nature.

[5]  T LoSasso,et al.  Dosimetric verification of intensity-modulated fields. , 1996, Medical physics.

[6]  J. R Greening,et al.  Fundamentals of Radiation Dosimetry , 1981 .

[7]  J. Hansen,et al.  Problems associated with the use of the radiochromic dye film as a radiation dose meter , 1984 .

[8]  Leonard Eyges,et al.  Multiple Scattering with Energy Loss , 1948 .

[9]  A. Niroomand-rad,et al.  Air cavity effects on the radiation dose to the larynx using Co-60, 6 MV, and 10 MV photon beams. , 1994, International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.

[10]  H. Mercado-Uribe,et al.  The use of a reflective scanner to study radiochromic film response. , 2002, Physics in medicine and biology.

[11]  M. Butson,et al.  TLD extrapolation for skin dose determination in vivo. , 1996, Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

[12]  I. Lax,et al.  Electron beam dose planning using discrete Gaussian beams. Mathematical background. , 1981, Acta radiologica. Oncology.

[13]  A. Olch.  Dosimetric performance of an enhanced dose range radiographic film for intensity-modulated radiation therapy quality assurance. , 2002, Medical physics.

[14]  Corresponding dose response of radiographic film with layered gafchromic film. , 2002, Physics in medicine and biology.

[15]  G. Ibbott,et al.  Dosimetric considerations for validation of a sequential IMRT process with a commercial treatment planning system. , 2002, Physics in medicine and biology.

[16]  Verification of brachytherapy dosimetry with radiochromic film. , 1999, Medical dosimetry : official journal of the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists.

[17]  E. McCullough,et al.  The use of a radiochromic detector for the determination of stereotactic radiosurgery dose characteristics. , 1994, Medical physics.

[18]  N Suchowerska,et al.  Perturbation of radiotherapy beams by radiographic film: measurements and Monte Carlo simulations. , 1999, Physics in medicine and biology.

[19]  P. Shragge,et al.  Calibration of film for accurate megavoltage photon dosimetry. , 1994, Medical dosimetry : official journal of the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists.

[20]  J M Slater,et al.  Dosimetry techniques for narrow proton beam radiosurgery. , 1999, Physics in medicine and biology.

[21]  J Cygler,et al.  GafChromic MD-55: investigated as a precision dosimeter. , 1997, Medical physics.

[22]  M. Bazioglou,et al.  Dosimetry with radiochromic films: a document scanner technique, neutron response, applications. , 2001, Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine.

[23]  T. Kron,et al.  Clinical use of carbon-loaded thermoluminescent dosimeters for skin dose determination. , 1995, International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.

[24]  F. Yong,et al.  Alpha + + , 1999 .

[25]  D. Perry,et al.  A model for calculating the effects of small inhomogeneities on electron beam dose distributions. , 1979, Medical physics.

[26]  M. Butson,et al.  Spatial resolution of a stacked radiochromic film dosimeter. , 2001, Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

[27]  B. Coursey,et al.  Investigation of applicability of alanine and radiochromic detectors to dosimetry of proton clinical beams. , 1995, Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine.

[28]  How much does film sensitivity increase at depth for larger field sizes? , 1999, Medical physics.

[29]  J. Dempsey,et al.  Validation of a precision radiochromic film dosimetry system for quantitative two-dimensional imaging of acute exposure dose distributions. , 2000, Medical physics.

[30]  Arne Miller,et al.  Novel Radiochromic Films for Clinical Dosimetry , 1996 .

[31]  D S Berger,et al.  THE SUNBURNING ULTRAVIOLET METER: DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE , 1976, Photochemistry and photobiology.

[32]  H. Böttcher,et al.  Increase of surface dose using wound dressings during percutaneous radiotherapy with photons and electrons. , 1996, Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

[33]  M. Butson,et al.  Radiochromic film dosimetry in water phantoms , 2001, Physics in medicine and biology.

[34]  M. Butson,et al.  Calculation of electron contamination doses produced using blocking trays for X-rays , 2002 .

[35]  S. Nablo,et al.  Low energy electron process applications , 1977 .

[36]  L. Reinstein,et al.  A rapid colour stabilization technique for radiochromic film dosimetry. , 1998, Physics in medicine and biology.

[37]  C. De Angelis,et al.  Dosimetric characterization of silicon and diamond detectors in low-energy proton beams , 2000, Physics in medicine and biology.

[38]  S. Scheib,et al.  Precision dosimetry for narrow photon beams used in radiosurgery-determination of Gamma Knife output factors. , 2002, Medical physics.

[39]  F. Spiers.  Physics of Radiology , 1968, Nature.

[40]  Martin J Butson,et al.  Multilayer Gafchromic film detectors for breast skin dose determination in vivo. , 2002, Physics in medicine and biology.

[41]  R. Nath,et al.  Photon energy dependence of the sensitivity of radiochromic film and comparison with silver halide film and LiF TLDs used for brachytherapy dosimetry. , 1991, Medical physics.

[42]  An application of GafChromic MD-55 film for 67.5 MeV clinical proton beam dosimetry. , 1999, Physics in medicine and biology.

[43]  N. Suchowerska,et al.  Directional dependence in film dosimetry: radiographic and radiochromic film. , 2001, Physics in medicine and biology.

[44]  Andrew G. Glen,et al.  APPL , 2001 .

[45]  M. J. Berger,et al.  Additional stopping power and range tables for protons, mesons, and electrons , 1966 .

[46]  R. L. Weber,et al.  Introduction to Modern Physics , 1959 .

[47]  D. Pearson,et al.  Measurements and Monte Carlo calculations to determine the absolute detector response of radiochromic film for brachytherapy dosimetry. , 2001, Medical physics.

[48]  A. Dutreix,et al.  FILM DOSIMETRY OF HIGH‐ENERGY ELECTRONS , 1969, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

[49]  A correction method for diamond detector signal dependence with proton energy. , 2002, Medical physics.

[50]  A novel 675.2 nm diode laser densitometer for use with GafChromic films. , 1999, Medical physics.

[51]  L. V. van Battum,et al.  Film dosimetry of clinical electron beams. , 1990, International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.

[52]  S Cora,et al.  Use of a new type of radiochromic film, a new parallel-plate micro-chamber, MOSFETs, and TLD 800 microcubes in the dosimetry of small beams. , 1998, Medical physics.

[53]  P. Metcalfe,et al.  Assessment of large single-fraction, low-energy X-ray dose with radiochromic film. , 2000, International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.

[54]  R J Watts.  Evaluation of a diode detector array for use as a linear accelerator QC device. , 1998, Medical physics.

[55]  Measurement of skin dose variations produced by a silicon-based protective dressing in radiotherapy. , 2002, Physics in medicine and biology.

[56]  The use of Riso B3 film gamma dosimeter for monitoring ultraviolet radiation , 1996 .

[57]  Comment on "Dosimetric characteristics of an improved radiochromic film" [Med. Phys. 23, 1883-1888 (1996)] and on "Qualitative evaluation of radiochromic film response for two-dimensional dosimetry" [Med. Phys. 24, 223-231 (1997)]. , 1997, Medical physics.

[58]  J F Williamson,et al.  Quantitative evaluation of radiochromic film response for two-dimensional dosimetry. , 1997, Medical physics.

[59]  T. Wiezorek,et al.  VERIDOS: A New Tool for Quality Assurance for Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy , 2002, Strahlentherapie und Onkologie.

[60]  S K Chen,et al.  Digitizing of radiographs with a flatbed scanner. , 1995, Journal of dentistry.

[61]  J M Galvin,et al.  A comparison of multileaf-collimator and alloy-block field shaping. , 1998, International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.

[62]  L E Reinstein,et al.  Comparison of three high-resolution digitizers for radiochromic film dosimetry. , 2002, Medical physics.

[63]  V. Danchenko,et al.  Delayed Darkening of Radiation-Exposed Radiochromic Dye Dosimeters , 1981, IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science.

[64]  C. Kirisits,et al.  Determination and application of the reference isodose length (RIL) for commercial endovascular brachytherapy devices. , 2002, Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

[65]  Lawrence E. Reinstein,et al.  A system for comprehensive 3D validation of localization, planning and treatment delivery for IMRT , 2001 .

[66]  D. F. Lewis,et al.  Sensitometry of the response of a new radiochromic film dosimeter to gamma radiation and electron beams , 1991 .

[67]  Monte Carlo calculations and GafChromic film measurements for plugged collimator helmets of Leksell Gamma Knife unit. , 1999, Medical physics.

[68]  J. R. Turner,et al.  High-resolution dosimetry using radiochromic film and a document scanner. , 1996, Physics in medicine and biology.

[69]  C. R. Edwards,et al.  The response of a MOSFET, p-type semiconductor and LiF TLD to quasi-monoenergetic x-rays. , 1997, Physics in medicine and biology.

[70]  L. Dewerd,et al.  A checklist for reporting of thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD) measurements. , 1999, Physics in medicine and biology.

[71]  R. C. McCall,et al.  Photon and electron response of silicon-diode neutron detectors. , 1978, Medical physics.

[72]  S. Klevenhagen.  Physics of Electron Beam Therapy , 1985 .

[73]  Comments on "Quantitative evaluation of radiochromic film response for two-dimensional dosimetry" [Med. Phys. 24, 223-231 (1997)]. , 1998, Medical physics.

[74]  Ultraviolet radiation dosimetry with radiochromic film. , 2000, Physics in medicine and biology.

[75]  J C Rosenwald,et al.  Variation of sensitometric curves of radiographic films in high energy photon beams. , 2001, Medical physics.

[76]  Use of a blood glucose meter for radiochromic film analysis in blood irradiation. , 2002, Physics in medicine and biology.

[77]  Attix Fh.  The partition of kerma to account for bremsstrahlung. , 1979 .

[78]  Radiochromic film dosimetry of a high dose rate beta source for intravascular brachytherapy. , 1999, Medical physics.

[79]  P. Metcalfe,et al.  Radiochromic film as a radiotherapy surface-dose detector. , 1996, Physics in medicine and biology.

[80]  D. Rogers,et al.  EGS4 code system , 1985 .

[81]  H. F. Bowman,et al.  A miniature MOSFET radiation dosimeter probe. , 1994, Medical physics.

[82]  E. Hegazy,et al.  Thymol-blue dyed poly(vinyl butyral) films for monitoring ultraviolet radiation , 2000 .

[83]  Peter E Metcalfe.  The Physics of Radiotherapy X-Rays from Linear Accelerators , 1997 .

[84]  The electron-dose distribution surrounding an 192Ir wire brachytherapy source investigated using EGS4 simulations and GafChromic film. , 1997, Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine.

[85]  Imaging of radiation dose for stereotactic radiosurgery. , 1993, Medical dosimetry : official journal of the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists.

[86]  S. Vatnitsky,et al.  Radiochromic film dosimetry for verification of dose distributions delivered with proton-beam radiosurgery. , 1997, Physics in medicine and biology.

[87]  Visible dye light absorption properties of processed radiographic film. , 2001, Physics in medicine and biology.

[88]  J. Galvin,et al.  Radiochromic film dosimetry: recommendations of AAPM Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group 55. American Association of Physicists in Medicine. , 1998, Medical physics.

[89]  The use of improved radiochromic film for in vivo quality assurance of high dose rate brachytherapy. , 1998, Medical physics.

[90]  J M Wilkinson,et al.  Electron contamination and build-up doses in conformal radiotherapy fields. , 1999, Physics in medicine and biology.

[91]  P. Metcalfe,et al.  Measurement of radiotherapy x-ray skin dose on a chest wall phantom. , 2000, Medical physics.

[92]  B. Diffey,et al.  Possible dosimeter for ultraviolet radiation , 1976, Nature.

[93]  I. Lax.  Inhomogeneity corrections in electron-beam dose planning. Limitations with the semi-infinite slab approximation. , 1986, Physics in medicine and biology.

[94]  M. Rogawski,et al.  Epileptiform activity extinguished by amygdala infusion of the neurotoxin ibotenate in a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy. , 2002, Journal of neurosurgery.

[95]  B. Clark,et al.  The use of radiographic film for linear accelerator stereotactic radiosurgical dosimetry. , 1999, Medical physics.

[96]  A. A. Abdel-Fattah,et al.  Temperature, humidity and time. Combined effects on radiochromic film dosimeters , 1996 .

[97]  S. Vatnitsky,et al.  Radiochromic film dosimetry for clinical proton beams. , 1997, Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine.

[98]  P. Murphy,et al.  MEASURING SKIN DOSE WITH RADIOCHROMIC DOSIMETRY FILM IN THE CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION LABORATORY , 2002, Health physics.

[99]  Stereotactic dose planning system used in Leksell Gamma Knife model-B: EGS4 Monte Carlo versus GafChromic films MD-55. , 2000, Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine.

[100]  Lu Zhang,et al.  A study of dosimetry characteristics of GAF DM-1260 radiochromic films , 2000 .

[101]  Jean-Raymond Abrial,et al.  On B , 1998, B.

[102]  P. Olko,et al.  Microdosimetric interpretation of the photon energy response of LiF:Mg,Ti detectors. , 2002, Radiation protection dosimetry.

[103]  J. Dempsey,et al.  Quantitative dosimetric verification of an IMRT planning and delivery system. , 1998, Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

[104]  Inhwan Jason Yeo,et al.  Film dosimetry for intensity modulated radiation therapy: dosimetric evaluation. , 2002, Medical physics.

[105]  H. Bartelink,et al.  Radiotherapy: the last 25 years. , 1999, Cancer treatment reviews.

[106]  Z. I. Ali,et al.  Polymer-based triphenyl tetrazolium chloride films for ultraviolet radiation monitoring , 2000 .

[107]  S. Rustgi.  Evaluation of the dosimetric characteristics of a diamond detector for photon beam measurements. , 1995, Medical physics.

[108]  Effects of read-out light sources and ambient light on radiochromic film. , 1998, Physics in medicine and biology.

[109]  G S Ibbott,et al.  Dosimetric characteristics of an improved radiochromic film. , 1996, Medical physics.

[110]  O. Klein,et al.  Über die Streuung von Strahlung durch freie Elektronen nach der neuen relativistischen Quantendynamik von Dirac , 1929 .

[111]  G. Horstmann,et al.  Gamma knife model C with the automatic positioning system and its impact on the treatment of vestibular schwannomas. , 2002, Journal of neurosurgery.

[112]  A. Niroomand-rad,et al.  Radiation dose pertubation at tissue-titanium dental interfaces in head and neck cancer patients , 1996 .

[113]  Optical density changes of Gafchromic MD-55 film resulting from laser light exposure at wavelengths of 671 nm and 633 nm. , 2000, Medical physics.

[114]  C. Hsu,et al.  The response of a thermoluminescent dosimeter to low energy protons in the range 30-100 keV. , 2001, Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine.

[115]  A NEW DOSIMETER FOR ULTRAVIOLET‐B RADIATION , 1989 .

[116]  R. Capote,et al.  A standard dosimetry procedure for 192Ir sources used for endovascular brachytherapy. , 2002, Physics in medicine and biology.

[117]  K. Siegbahn,et al.  Alpha-, beta- and gamma-ray spectroscopy , 1965 .

[118]  S C Sharma,et al.  Film dosimetry of megavoltage photon beams: a practical method of isodensity-to-isodose curve conversion. , 1981, Medical physics.

[119]  2D and 3D dose distribution determination in proton beam radiotherapy with GafChromic film detectors. , 2000, Technology and health care : official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine.

[120]  W. V. Prestwich,et al.  Dosimetric properties of the new 125I BrachySeed model LS-1 source. , 2002, Medical physics.

[121]  L. Reinstein,et al.  The use of an inexpensive red acetate filter to improve the sensitivity of GAFChromic dosimetry. , 2001, Medical physics.

[122]  H. Amols,et al.  Predicting optical densitometer response as a function of light source characteristics for radiochromic film dosimetry. , 1997, Medical physics.

[123]  Steidley Kd.  USE OF RADIOCHROMIC DOSIMETRY FILM FOR HDR BRACHYTHERAPY QUALITY ASSURANCE , 1998 .

[124]  Lisa Barbera,et al.  Does delay in starting treatment affect the outcomes of radiotherapy? A systematic review. , 2003, Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

[125]  J F Williamson,et al.  Quantitative optical densitometry with scanning-laser film digitizers. , 1999, Medical physics.

[126]  R. Komaki,et al.  The use of radiochromic film to measure dose distributions resulting from high dose rate 192Iridium single catheter treatments. , 1996, International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.

[127]  M. Butson,et al.  Dose response of various radiation detectors to synchrotron radiation. , 1998, Physics in medicine and biology.

[128]  Shuttle dose at the Vienna Leksell Gamma Knife. , 1998, Physics in medicine and biology.

[129]  L. V. van Battum,et al.  A linear diode array (JFD-5) for match line in vivo dosimetry in photon and electron beams; evaluation for a chest wall irradiation technique. , 2001, Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

[130]  Dose measurement based on spectral chi-square minimization using GAFchromic MD-55 film. , 2000, Physics in medicine and biology.

[131]  M. G. Sabini,et al.  Radiochromic film dosimetry of a low energy proton beam. , 2000, Medical physics.

[132]  M. Charles,et al.  A wide dynamic range, high-spatial-resolution scanning system for radiochromic dye films. , 2001, Physics in medicine and biology.

[133]  A Burch,et al.  Technical note: comparison of various film densitometers. , 1993, The British journal of radiology.

[134]  S. Shalaby,et al.  Irradiation of Polymers: Fundamentals and Technological Applications , 1996 .

[135]  P. O. Kellermann,et al.  A new method of readout in radiochromic film dosimetry. , 1998, Physics in medicine and biology.

[136]  Jaromir Kosar,et al.  Light-sensitive systems , 1965 .

[137]  H. Shiomi,et al.  Quality assurance for an image-guided frameless radiosurgery system using radiochromic film. , 2000, Radiation medicine.

[138]  L. Reinstein,et al.  Comparison of dose response of radiochromic film measured with He-Ne laser, broadband, and filtered light densitometers. , 1997, Medical physics.

[139]  D. Sliney,et al.  Intercomparison of Effective Erythemal Irradiance Measurements from Two Types of Broad‐Band Instruments during June 1995 , 1998, Photochemistry and photobiology.

[140]  K. Siegbahn.  Beta- and Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy , 1955 .

[141]  Mohamad Al-Sheikhly,et al.  Radiochromic Solid-State Polymerization Reaction , 1996 .

[142]  C. Fiorino,et al.  Dosimetry of Gamma Knife and linac-based radiosurgery using radiochromic and diode detectors. , 1999, Physics in medicine and biology.

[143]  G. G. Stokes.  "J." , 1890, The New Yale Book of Quotations.

[144]  Beam profile analysis using GafChromic films. , 1993, Stereotactic and functional neurosurgery.

[145]  C. De Wagter,et al.  Characteristics of a commercially available film digitizer and their significance for film dosimetry. , 1998, Physics in medicine and biology.

[146]  T. Cheung,et al.  Use of multiple layers of Gafchromic film to increase sensitivity. , 2001, Physics in medicine and biology.

[147]  Dosimetry and mechanical accuracy of the first rotating gamma system installed in North America. , 2002, Medical physics.

[148]  I. Turesson.  Individual variation and dose dependency in the progression rate of skin telangiectasia. , 1990, International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.